Car Insurance in South Carolina

Key Takeaways

• The average cost of car insurance in South Carolina is $3,814 per year for full coverage and $2,340 per year for liability underinsured coverage.
• Younger drivers and newly licensed motorists generally pay the highest premiums because they present a higher insurance risk.
• Insurance costs often vary between inland and coastal communities due to differences in traffic patterns, weather-related claims, and local claim activity.
• Drivers in Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, and North Charleston often pay different premiums than those in smaller communities because of population density and traffic volume.
• South Carolina requires drivers to carry liability insurance and uninsured motorist coverage to legally operate a vehicle.

South Carolina drivers have access to a variety of discounts that can help make auto insurance more affordable. Many insurance companies reward safe driving habits, responsible policy management, and vehicle safety features with lower premiums.

Common car insurance discounts available to South Carolina drivers may include:

• Safe / Good Driver Discount for maintaining a clean driving record
• Multi-Policy (Bundling) for bundling auto insurance with homeowners, renters, or other policies
• Multi-Vehicle Discount for insuring multiple vehicles on one policy
• Good Student Discount for qualifying students with good grades

South Carolina law requires drivers to carry a minimum amount of liability insurance and uninsured motorist coverage to legally register and operate a vehicle. These minimum insurance requirements apply statewide and must be maintained continuously to avoid penalties, fines, or registration suspension.

To meet South Carolina’s minimum auto insurance requirements, drivers must carry:

• $25,000 in Bodily Injury Liability per person
• $50,000 in Bodily Injury Liability per accident
• $25,000 in Property Damage Liability per accident
• Uninsured Motorist Coverage

Bodily Injury Liability (BI)

Bodily Injury Liability coverage helps pay for medical expenses, lost wages, rehabilitation costs, and certain legal expenses if you injure another person in an accident for which you are found at fault. South Carolina requires drivers to carry minimum bodily injury limits of $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident.

Property Damage Liability (PD)

Property Damage Liability coverage helps pay for damage you cause to another person’s property, including vehicles, buildings, fences, utility poles, or other structures. South Carolina requires drivers to carry at least $25,000 in property damage liability coverage.

Collision Coverage

Collision coverage helps pay to repair or replace your vehicle after an accident, regardless of who caused the crash. Although not required by South Carolina law, collision coverage is commonly purchased by drivers who want protection for their own vehicle and is often required by lenders for financed vehicles.

Comprehensive Coverage

Comprehensive coverage helps protect your vehicle against non-collision losses such as theft, vandalism, fire, hail, flooding, falling objects, and animal-related damage. While optional, comprehensive coverage can provide valuable protection against many of South Carolina’s weather-related and coastal risks.

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Coverage (UM/UIM)

Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) Coverage helps protect you if you’re injured by a driver who has no insurance or doesn’t carry enough liability insurance to fully cover your injuries. South Carolina requires uninsured motorist coverage, while underinsured motorist coverage is optional but can provide valuable additional financial protection after a serious accident.

While South Carolina’s minimum insurance requirements satisfy the state’s legal obligations, many drivers choose higher liability limits or optional coverages such as underinsured motorist, collision, comprehensive, medical payments, and rental reimbursement coverage for broader financial protection and greater peace of mind.

Driving without the required auto insurance in South Carolina can lead to significant legal and financial consequences. Drivers are required to maintain continuous coverage on registered vehicles unless they have satisfied the state’s alternative requirements for uninsured motorist registration.

Potential consequences of driving without insurance in South Carolina may include:

• Vehicle registration suspension
• Driver’s license suspension
• Reinstatement fees and administrative penalties
• SR-22 filing requirements
• Requirements to provide proof of insurance before driving privileges or registration can be restored
• Increased insurance premiums in the future
• Additional penalties for repeat violations

Even a brief lapse in coverage can create complications and make it more difficult or expensive to obtain insurance later. Drivers who are involved in an accident while uninsured may also be held personally responsible for property damage, medical expenses, and other costs resulting from the crash.

Maintaining continuous coverage helps South Carolina drivers remain compliant with state law while avoiding unnecessary financial and administrative burdens.